It depends on traditions, but in anyway in the Tibetan tradition the most basic thing would be:

- In the center of your altar: (Shakyamuni) Buddha statue/image (representing the Body of the Buddha)- on his right: a text of a sutra like the heart sutra which is a seminal and all encompassing text (representing the Speech of the Buddha)- on his left some kind of a stupa (representing the Mind of the Buddha).

The altar should be somewhere quiet, clean, and not at ground level, and not where people will point their feet towards it. If in your bedroom you should be able to partition it or at least curtain it off if and when you are sexually active.

Lol. I may write it, ill find a suitable English Translation and copy it, i feel like it may be more meaningful than print and ink... As for copyright i don't think there truly exists a sutra police... If so ill fight them off!!

I set mine up 'symbolically' rather than traditionally - with a Tibetan Buddha center-forward, to represent the Buddha - The dhammapada and Shantideva's Bodhisattva's way of life texts to the right, to represent the Dharma - and photos of two specific people who have helped me Buddhistfully in this life on the left, to represent the Sangha. I also have a rather oversized bell on the Dharma/wisdom side and a dried leaf thing symbolic of the tree the Buddha sat under behind the figurine to bring out the emphasis of his enlightenment. (I also have my mala beads in front of the Buddha to represent the lack of practice that stands between me being enlightened and the Buddha.)

Paliut wrote:Lol. I may write it, ill find a suitable English Translation and copy it, i feel like it may be more meaningful than print and ink... As for copyright i don't think there truly exists a sutra police... If so ill fight them off!!

Well, you can always do as you please. I would offer this: take only what is given.

I don't think anyone will come and take your birthday away, but placing something ill-gotten on your shrine may present obstacles to practice.

My first practice liturgy was hand-transcribed. I took an afternoon off work, went to my dharma center, sat in the shrine room and copied the liturgy by hand. I was an excellent experience, but not one I think I'll repeat any time soon. Better I think, to support translators by buying copies their translation.

Paliut wrote:Thanks for the tips. Yeah I agree I should support translators...

Chaz how is your altar set up? Just curious...

I have my shrine set up in a manner decribed by Trungpa Rinpoche. It has the three primary representations - enlightened body (statue of Shakyamuni Buddha), enlightened speech (copy of Heart Sutra) and enlightend mind (a stupa). Along with that I maintain 8 permanent offerings (water for drinking, water for washing, ect.). I use two small butter lamps with tealight candles, a small bowl for incense and framed altar cards depicting Avalokiteshvara and Green Tara. I have a teacher's chair set up next to the altar. My practice area is on the side of the altar opposite the teacher's chair. I have a Puja table set up there and I keep a photo of my Guru and a small print of the Kagyu Refuge Tree there too.

Paliut wrote:Thanks for the tips. Yeah I agree I should support translators...

Chaz how is your altar set up? Just curious...

I have my shrine set up in a manner decribed by Trungpa Rinpoche. It has the three primary representations - enlightened body (statue of Shakyamuni Buddha), enlightened speech (copy of Heart Sutra) and enlightend mind (a stupa). Along with that I maintain 8 permanent offerings (water for drinking, water for washing, ect.). I use two small butter lamps with tealight candles, a small bowl for incense and framed altar cards depicting Avalokiteshvara and Green Tara. I have a teacher's chair set up next to the altar. My practice area is on the side of the altar opposite the teacher's chair. I have a Puja table set up there and I keep a photo of my Guru and a small print of the Kagyu Refuge Tree there too.

Paliut wrote:Thanks for the tips. Yeah I agree I should support translators...

Chaz how is your altar set up? Just curious...

I have my shrine set up in a manner decribed by Trungpa Rinpoche. It has the three primary representations - enlightened body (statue of Shakyamuni Buddha), enlightened speech (copy of Heart Sutra) and enlightend mind (a stupa). Along with that I maintain 8 permanent offerings (water for drinking, water for washing, ect.). I use two small butter lamps with tealight candles, a small bowl for incense and framed altar cards depicting Avalokiteshvara and Green Tara. I have a teacher's chair set up next to the altar. My practice area is on the side of the altar opposite the teacher's chair. I have a Puja table set up there and I keep a photo of my Guru and a small print of the Kagyu Refuge Tree there too.